A cobpobation



n. P. DAVIES TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICAHON HLEU NOV-3| l9l7- Patented Jan. 10, 1922.

D. P. DAVIES.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLHJAHON FILHJ NOV-3 I917- Patented Jan. 10, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEE 2.

D\ P. DAVHES.

TRACTION ENGINE.

APPLICMION FILED Nov. 3. 1911 Patented Jan. 10, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

umrso srArps gll'ENT OFFICE.

DAVID P. DAVIES, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO J. I. CASE THREsRm MACHINE COMPANY, OF RAGINE, WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION.

TRACTION ENGINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1922.

Application filed November 3, 1917. Serial No. 200,037.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID P. Dnviss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine. in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction Engines, of which the following is a specification.

In the construction of traction engines of the internal combustion motor type, it is customary to build a supporting frame comprising several sections which must be accurately machined, and fitted, and secured together by a large number of bolts, and, in order to obtain the requisite rigidity of such an assembled structure, it is necessary to stiffen and brace the frame by numerous communicating supports, trussed arrangements and the like, but it is well known in actual field work that because of the tremendous strain to which such tractors are subjected, especially when pulling several plows, hauling heavy threshing machinery and the like, these frames undergo a rocking strain, often producing such distortion of the structure as to allect the proper alinemerit and operation of the power mechm nisms forming part of the tractor, and, therefore, rendering the same short lived.

The object of my present invention is to produce a tractor, the body or frame of which shall preferably be composed of a single metal casting, and so designed as to include the radiator support, the motor crank case, transmission casing, rear axle housing, and other supportin r parts, which unitary structure is highly cl esirable, especially in the construction of small tractors, and the cost of production of which is materially reduced. I thus completely dispense with the employment of bolts for assembling these various containing and supporting elements into a component frame, and entirely eliminate the necessity of machin ing, drilling and accurately fitting and precisely alinlng such parts, thus producing an inflexible and absolutely rigid structure with which the carrying wheels, transmission mechanisms, motor and other elements requisite to a complete tractor may be readily assembled and secured in :1. comparetively simple and expeditious manner and in positive alinement. While I am enabled to readily produce a single casting for small sized tractors, it will be understood that aproportion and weight for large sized tractors is more diflicult, and the liability of loss through breakage or defective castings in molding is much greater, and particularly so when the formation is of substantially the design disclosed herein, which embodies a downwardly inclined port and axle hearing. Therefore, I find it exceedingly practicable to produce la! s zed tractor bodies in two pieces, which s1mphfie s the casting process and obviates the hability of breakage and defectiveness referred to. In carrying out this method howeyer, I do not depart from the essential principle embodied in the single casting for small tractors, for I retain and include in a single casting a plurality of compartments comprising the motor crank case, trans. miss on casing, and rear axle housing, and provide for the support'of the necessary 00- acting power mechanisms communicating therewith from which the propelling and driving power is derived, so that the structore containing these elements is absolutely inflexible and insures positive alinement of these parts in a similar manner to that of the smaller tractor body. The second or forward section of the body which su ports the radiator and front wheels is prefiirably a single casting, which, when secured to the main casting, of substantially the character first herein referred to, but this portionof the body carries no parts requiring exact or positive alinement, being adapted for supporting the radiator and forward carrying wheels.

In the accompanying rawings, which form a part hereof, Figure 1 is a plan view of a tractor embodying my improved frame, showing assembled therewith the carrying wheels and the various power mechanisms and accessories common to tractors; Fig. 2 a side elevation of said frame; Figs. 3 and 4 detail sectional views; Fig. 5 a side elevaradiator snpproduces in effect a rigid body drawing. Between said in the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, said body or frame, 5, comprises a transversely arranged member, 6, at its forward end for supporting a radiator, as 7. The casting then continues on to the rear end. preferabl inclining slightly, at 9, (Fig. 2), after it liiaves said member 6 until at its upper side a shelf, 10, is formed for supporting (see Fig. 1) a magneto, 11, water pump, 12, and housing, 13, for enclosing the gears and shaft which supportsand drives the fan 8. Where the body comprises two parts, however, the forward portion 9 is securely bolt ed to part 5, as w ll be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 7, but the body in its entirety is to all intents and purposes similar to that shown in the other figures of 1 member 6 and shelf 10 said body is hollow, as at 14 by which formation I eliminate a considerable amount of unnecessary weight, at the same time through the depth and thickness of the surrounding walls insuring a strong and rigid structure. At one side of said body 1 form a support, 15, to which an arm, 16, is secured which communicates with the engine crank shaft and sustains a clutch shifting lever, 17. Behind said shelf 10 the body or frame 5 may be hollowed, or preferably open from bottom to top, and gt a suitable formation to receive a crank shaft, 18, serving as a compartment therefor. Any suit able motor such as the engine, 20. as will be readily understood, may be placed in position above and connected to said crank shaft 18, the formation of the upper side of the body 5 being such as to constitute an engine base, 21, to which the engine may be fixedly secured by bolts or otherwise, in a well known manner. The lower ends of walls, 22, within which the crank shaft is mounted, are flanged, as at 23, and to which I secure by bolts, 24, a splash tray, .25, comprising a top having depressions, 26, therein through which the cranks of the shaft pass when in operation, the bottom of said tray comprising a plate, 27, having a drip, 28. therein, which plate may be secured to the flanged walls 23 by the bolts 24 as indicated. -By this simple construction the tray as a unit may be removed and replaced readily, and thus access can be had to the crank shaft, pistons, cylinders and other parts comprising the motor. While I have shown the crank shaft case of a formation to receive a transversely arranged shaft, it will be understood. of course, that the same may be modified in form so as to accommodate a shaft positioned longitudinally of the tractor body, or at right angles to the transmisison shafts. Behind the crank case described the body has a hollow formation constituting a compartment or casing, 3H, for the accommodation of the transmission 37, 38, to constitute shafts and associated mechanisms, the bearlugs for said shafts being reinforced by integral flanges, as 31, 32, forming part of the body 5, and from this chamber the body extends to and terminates in a compartment or housing, 35, for the rear axle, 36, said housing at its outer ends being flanged, at bearings for said axle, and in proximity to said housing I extend lugs 36, 37', 38, which may be suitably drilled for the attachment of parts communicating with the structure generally. As shown, I prefer to form said rear aX 6 housing substantially barrel-shaped, thus providing an oil chamber for said axle, at one side of which is mounted the difierential, 39, which communicates with the second transmisison shaft, 40. through gears is a well known manner. The transmission mechanisms in compartments 30 are enclosed and protected by a suitable cover, as all, which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the body. As will be understood, of course, the bottom of transmission compartment 30 need not be an integral part of the structure, and particularly so where a large and heavy casting is produced, in which case both the upper and lower side of the compartment may be open, to thus facilitate the work of casting, and which openings may be closed by the covers 41 and 42. The carrying wheels 50, 51, may be of any suitable construction for the )ur 050, and I prefer to mount the forward wheels 50 on an axle, 52, which is pivotally mounted. as at 53, in advance of the body, thus obtaining a three-point support or the tractor body and eliminating the racking or twisting strain thereof, and on the under side of said body I include a support, 55, to whirh a drawbur, 56, may be bolted.

I have not specifically detailed all of the parts shown, as many of them are common and well known. and make no claims therefor, but, as hereinbefore indicated, my improvement comprises essentially a tractor body or frame formed preferably in one continuous piece of metal embodying a plurality of compartments, or in two pieces bolted together when the body is of a large and weighty character, and so proportioned and designated as to constitute and provide for the support of the various elements requisite to a complete tractor. thus entirely eliminating the necessity for separately constructing such supports. then machining and accurately assembling the same in a frame, and alining and bolting them. I thus produce a rigid and stiff structure upon and within which all the operating mechanisms may be readily and accurately assembled without the possibility of non'alinement of the shafting or other power producing parts, and which in operation in the field will be free from vibration and d stortion and the racking strain to which a tractor framtnmade in several sections is subjected, and also a tractor the rotary and delicate mechanisms of which will be enclosed and protected from dust and other extraneous matter.

I claim as my invention:

1! In a traction engine, a body portion comprising a continuous integral steel casting embodying a motor supporting base and formed to accommodate a system of shafts formingpart of the driving mechanisms an of which shafts are arranged in parallel relation with each other and lie transversely of the frame, said frame being formed with a downwardly extending front end embodying: at radiator support and its rear end cmbofi ing a rear axle housing, all substantial y asset forth.

2. A body for tractim engines comprising a continuous integral casting formed at its upper side with a shelf for supporting operating paits, with a motor supporting base adjacent to said shelf, with a compartment beneath said'motor supporting base, and with an open compartment for the transmission mechanism adjacent to said motor supporting base with a top therefor, the surfaces of saidseveral parts on which the operating mechanism, the' motor and the cover for the last mentioned compartment are mounted being formed in the same plane, whereby they may be planed or machined at a single operation, substantially as set forth.

3. A traction engine body comprising a continuous integral casting having formed therein supports and bearings for the various operating parts to he carried thereby,

including hearings for the crank-shaft, transmission mechanism. axle housings. etc. the outer ends of which are formed to extend into the same plane, whereby they may be dressed or machined at a single 6peration, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID P. DAVIES. Witnesses PHIL. A. CELANDER. J. A. WALSH. 

